412 Antozone and Peroxide of Hydrogen. 



and even a solution of chromic acid, and may stand for hours 

 over water before it completely disappears. But on examining 

 the waters used in washing it, they will be found to contain 

 peroxide of hydrogen. Apply the same mode of solving the 

 other statements made by Meissner, remembering always that 

 the peroxide of hydrogen which is formed when ozone is decom- 

 posed by an aqueous solution, is attended b} T a white cloud 

 through which the peroxide of hydrogen has diffused itself, — a 

 white cloud of such permanence that it may be transmitted 

 through many solutions before undergoing absorption, — and 

 their explanation will be found both natural and easy. 



In conclusion, why not make an end of the matter by stating 

 that antozone is peroxide of hydrogen ? The objection to so 

 doing is, that along with the term antozone there were attached 

 many notions which are nob true of peroxide of hydrogen, such 

 as its being electro-positive oxygen, that it had the power of 

 forming peroxide of hydrogen on coming into contact with 

 water, etc. 



Finally, the very name antozone implies a substance in its 

 nature the opposite of ozone, and supposes the existence of a 

 theory to account for the difference. For these reasons, I deem 

 it more just to sum up the question by reaffirming the affirma- 

 tion made at the beginning, that there is not, and never ivas, 

 antozone. 



II. — Peroxide of Hydrogen. 



Though Peroxide of Hydrogen was discovered by Thenard 

 more than half a century ago (1818), and has ever been a sub- 

 stance possessed of unusual interest in the eyes of chemists, yet 

 the difficulties of its manufacture were so great, that only re- 

 cently has it ceased to be a chemical curiosity and come into 

 common use in the arts. Only a year ago a very dilute solution 

 of the peroxide, imported from Europe, was sold in New York 

 at the price of $16 per gallon. But to-day a solution containing 

 .8 per cent, is retailed at about $1 per pound. At this high 

 price, it is sold under fanciful names, and employed to bleach 

 human hair. But there is much reason for believing that a 



